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Unparalleled record: Do you know how much coal Shakhanov dug in just 6 hours?
In the Soviet Union in the 1930s, the Shakhanov movement became a cultural phenomenon, inspiring workers to move towards higher production goals. This movement was established by the Communist Party with the goal of promoting the development of socialism by improving work efficiency. The Shakhanov movement was exemplified by Russian coal miner Alexi Shakhanov, who dug 102 tons of coal in just six hours, however, this was only the beginning of the story.
"Workers proudly view their efforts as a contribution to the socialist state."
The Shakhanov movement originated in 1935, during the Soviet Union's second five-year plan. This is a continuation of brute-force industrialization and an extension of the forced collectivization that began seven years ago. Shahanov's fame immediately sparked a competition in the workplace, with everyone hoping to become the next production ace. As this movement spread, almost all industrial systems began to implement similar competition models.
"On August 31, 1935, Shakhanov dug 102 tons of coal alone in less than six hours, becoming a symbol of production at the time."
Soon, other workers began to break Shakhanov's record. For example, on February 1, 1936, Nikita Izotov dug 640 tons of coal in one shift. Such competition stimulates the industrial production potential of the entire country and also makes the efforts of workers valued.
“The Soviet authorities claimed that the campaign had significantly increased labor productivity, with productivity rising by 41% during the first five-year plan.”
However, behind such glory lies enormous pressure. Not all workers are happy with the rising production targets. Many people criticized the Shakhanov movement for making their working lives more difficult. Furthermore, as production targets increased, the demands on workers became more brutal, with some even being punished for questioning the movement.
At the All-Union Shakhanov Conference in November 1935, participants stressed the important role of the movement in the economic reconstruction of socialist countries. As the conference progressed, many industries began to introduce Shakhanov's competitions to stimulate workers' sense of competition. There are many outstanding female workers among them. Although they are not as numerous as men, they still occupy a quarter of the female seats in trade unions.
"It has been reported that the initial reputation of the Shakhanov movement may have been exaggerated, and that many of the individual achievements touted were exaggerated."
As time went on, the Shakharov movement faced increasing opposition. In 1988, a report revealed a number of questionable facts about Shakhanov and his record. Some reports pointed out that in order to achieve such high standards, Shakhanov actually relied on the help of many assistants. Even so, according to Soviet state media, the Shakhanov movement still played a significant role in improving production efficiency.
During World War II, facing the challenges of war, the Shakhanovs developed many new methods to improve production efficiency. They often operate multiple machines at the same time and even combine different professional skills to complete a task. However, as such efforts have come, workers have come to feel a growing sense of burden, with many beginning to question whether this top-down approach to increasing production is truly sustainable.
"Faced with relentless production pressure, workers' health and quality of life have become issues worthy of attention."
In literature, the Shakharov movement also inspired creative works. Both Yuri Klimov's Tanker Derbent and George Orwell's Animal Farm reflect the impact of this movement and the patterns within it. People gradually realized whether this situation of overworking for production was really worthy of praise, or was it just a symbol of social responsibility?
The history of the Shakharov Movement reminds us that productivity improvements should not come at the expense of human health and quality of life. In the pursuit of excellence, how should we maintain human dignity and balance to prevent the consequences of blind pursuit?
